Pennsylvania House OKs 911 funding bill without yearly $52 fee, sends it back to Senate

Bethlehem's 911 Center

Harry Fisher / The Morning Call

Communication specialist Jim Zondlo handles a call inside Bethlehem's 911 Center on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. The stateÕs new 911 bill, set to drop this week, could force consolidation of the only remaining city 911 centers in Allentown and Bethlehem. Local state representatives and city officials say this will leave cities with even more expense for their call centers.

Communication specialist Jim Zondlo handles a call inside Bethlehem's 911 Center on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. The stateÕs new 911 bill, set to drop this week, could force consolidation of the only remaining city 911 centers in Allentown and Bethlehem. Local state representatives and city officials say this will leave cities with even more expense for their call centers. (Harry Fisher / The Morning Call)

Mark ScolforoAssociated Press

PA House strips 911 surcharge bill of $52 yearly fee, sends it back to Senate

A proposal to raise millions in phone bill fees to fund 911 centers passed the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday for the second time, but without a $52-a-year fee that had been added by the Senate.

The House voted 164-30 to raise the typical fees from $1 to $1.65 a month, generating $314 million a year for emergency dispatch systems that now cost about $292 million to operate. Democrats supplied four of the 30 "no" votes.

The bill gives 911 centers in Allentown and Bethlehem four years to work on consolidating their 911 centers with their respective counties. An earlier version would have forced consolidation sooner.

"This legislation brings financial stability and greater financial accountability to our county 911 center operations and will indeed greatly enhance the public safety of residents across the commonwealth," said the main sponsor, Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-Delaware.

The bill was sent back to the Senate for its consideration. The Senate could pass the bill as is, sending it to the desk of Gov. Tom Wolf, or it could vote down the measure, setting the stage for a conference committee to hammer out a compromise.

State proposal could mean the cities would have to merge with the county systems.

(Harry Fisher)

Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-Schuylkill, who has been a police officer, firefighter and county commissioner, said he was persuaded of the need for the additional funds, and was sure his constituents would understand.

"This is a core and essential service of government," Knowles said. "We're not talking about tax credits for making movies, we're not talking about walking trails, we're not talking about subsidies for solar power."

The bill was changed from an earlier version to give Philadelphia a voting member on the board that will help distribute funds and to change the distribution formula. Rep. Cherelle Parker, D-Philadelphia, said the changes earned her support for the measure.

The measure, known as HB 911, would update the state's Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act,...

Allentown and Bethlehem would get to keep their 911 emergency dispatch centers — and the state money that helps fund them — four more years under a compromise bill approved by a Senate committee Tuesday.

The measure, known as HB 911, would update the state's Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act,...

(Steve Esack, Emily Opilo and Nicole Radzievich)

"Those of us who are members of the Philadelphia delegation raised several concerns that we had that we felt would negatively impact the city administration," Parker said. "Leadership on both sides of the aisle here in the House, and also over in the Senate, have worked to address those issues."

But Rep. Cris Dush, R-Jefferson, said the new revenues should come in the form of a tax, not fees that would be under the control of a board.